KC Agcaoili

English 1A

Michalski, M.

October 30, 2018

The Banking Concept Through the Justice System

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The justice system in the United States has always been under a microscope

from the beginning of time. Many people have deemed the system unfair and unjust;

although some of those people have not spoken their opinions into existence, some

have. In his book, “Just Mercy,” Bryan Stevenson shares his experience as well as the

experience of others in facing injustice within the system. The book showcases how

Italicize these African-American men and women are being incarcerated and sentenced to

death or life in prison because the law was crafted to target them. For instance, an
boffo innocent man might have been convicted because the prosecutors relayed false
information about the crime to the jury. The jury did not question the information and

accepted the “false truth” that was being told to them. Therefore, the justice system that

Steveson describes in his book portrays this underlining concept called, “the banking

concept.” In his essay, "The Pedagogy of the Oppressed," Paulo Freire compares the

system of a bank to the education system because of the fact that teachers deliver

information to the students and expecting those students to commit said information to

memory without question. Although, Stevenson’s novel depicts multiple experiences of

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people facing unfair trials in the justice system; the novel also illustrates how the justice

without system is similar to a bank’s which sparks curiosity and critical thinking to the author’s

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refit Regarding Walter McMillian’s case, there was also another instance during his

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trial where the banking concept was adopted. When his trial was held, the court had a

jury that consisted of mostly white people which means that there were already

weir presumptions that presented itself concerning McMillian’s case. When the prosecutor

relayed the details of how McMillian committed the murder of a white woman (Ronda

Morrison), the jury took the information being presented to them and believed them

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without much thought. The jury is the student while the prosecutor is the teacher.

Another trait in the banking method is, “the teacher talks and the students listen.” When

you think about how trials are operated in the system, you notice that the jury always

stag listen and take in information and another party relays information to them. The banking

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with concept is clearly illustrated through McMillian’s trial along with others who have been
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pyffinthconvicted as well. It begs the question to his readers that if juries are meant just for
listening without really questioning what is being said to them, how can they be in
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situations charge of a convict’s verdict?

stfu One of the first experiences that Stevenson mentions in his book is the unfair trial

of Walter McMillian. At first, McMillian, an African-American man, was convicted for

being affiliated with Karen Kelly, a white woman. The way that McMillian was convicted

was as Freire would describe it, “the teacher chooses and enforces his choice, and the

students comply”(59). In McMillian’s situation, the “law-makers” in Alabama would be

 the teachers and the residents would be the students. During McMillian’s conviction, he

was faulted for violating the state constitution of Alabama that states, “the legislature

shall never pass any law to authorize or legalize any marriage between any white

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person and a Negro or descendant of a Negro” (51). The constitution, in this case, failed

sis McMillian for the fact that it targets him in the justice system. Although many would

zoot disagree with the law, there was nothing that could be done to change it because the
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“teachers” who were in power deemed that their choice in writing it was the best choice
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for everyone; they simply wanted the people living in Alabama to comply with the law

without asking any questions. Therefore, the banking concept is being implemented in

this case because the residents of Alabama complied with the law despite it being

unreasonable and racist. When Stevenson’s audience reads McMillian’s case, it is

certain that they too will question why he is at fault for being with a white woman.

Stevenson’s readers might realize that a law should not dictate who you can and can

not have a relationship with. Overall, his readers will be critical of how justice operates

in Alabama due to the fact the justice being brought to people might not be fair.

The justice system also dictates the punishment people receive from committing

crimes such as theft, fraud, murder, assault, etc. In Stevenson’s novel, he mentions how

“we’ve created laws that make writing a bad check or committing a petty theft or minor

property crime an offense that can result in life imprisonment” (26). Although it is logical

for people to receive consequences for committing a crime, is it reasonable to punish

those people with harsh punishments such as life imprisonment. The banking method

applies in this case because the people are being told what is acceptable and what is
not. For instance, they are being told that can’t “write a bad check,” or “commit a petty

theft,” and so on. All these actions deemed as a crime by the “teachers” or those who

made the laws are accepted by the “students” or the people because they are told that

they will be punished if they commit any of the actions. The residents are then

committing these rules that their state is relaying to them because if they do not

remember them, they may end up going to jail. When Stevenson’s readers come across

these laws stated in his book, they will be curious on why the laws are the way they are

and how it is presented in our society today.

In Stevenson’s book, he also presents a case where there are additional

consequences after they are convicted of a crime. Stevenson states there are laws that

“ban poor women and, inevitably, their children from receiving food stamps and public

housing if they have prior drug convictions” (27). He is saying that the justice system is

creating an environment that dictates who gets food and shelter. The students, in this

case, are the convicted while the teachers are again the people who make the law. The

teachers are essentially telling their students that since they did something bad, they will

be punished further after they receive their punishment. Also, Stevenson’s readers will

be curious to why the justice system would implement those laws as they affect

someone’s wellbeing. The readers might be more critical about how the justice system

creates laws for the people and the reason behind those laws.

Therefore, Paulo Freire’s banking concept where “the teacher issues

communiques and makes deposits which the students patiently receive, memorize, and

repeat” (58) is clearly portrayed throughout Bryan Stevenson’s novel, “Just Mercy.” The
 concept of banking that is depicted through Stevenson’s novel can spark a curiosity

among his readers. His readers are able to think about the justice system more critically

and question the system.

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